Drumstick

ABSTRACT

An improved drumstick and end tip therefor which is affixed to the reduced end of the stick. The reduced end is characterized by an axially elongate bore which is adapted to receive an extending arm of the tip. The tip is of substantially frusto-oval configuration and is characterized by an axial bore of diameter sufficient to fit over the reduced end of the stick. At the base of the bore internally of the tip is the longitudinally extending arm of a length slightly less than the bore in the end of the stick. Affixation of the tip to the stick requires insertion of the stick into the tip bore and concomitant insertion of the arm into the stick bore thereby markedly enhancing frictional engagement between the tip and stick.

United States Patent 1191 Brochstein DRUMSTICK [76] Inventor: I. H. Brochstein, 5230 Loch Lomand, Houston, Tex. 77035 221 Filed: May6, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 140,826

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 26,780 H1964 Germany. ..84/422 1451 May 1, 1973 Primary ExaminerAndrew V. Kundrat Attorney-Bernard A. Reiter [57] ABSTRACT An improved drumstick and end tip therefor which is affixed to the reduced end of the stick. The reduced end is characterized by an axially elongate bore which is adapted to receive an extending arm of the tip. The tip is of substantially frusto-oval configuration and is characterized by an axial bore of diameter sufficient to fit over the reduced end of the stick. At the base of the bore internally of the tip is the longitudinally extending arm of a length slightly less than the bore in the end of the stick. Affixation of the tip to the stick requires insertion of the stick into the tip bore and concomitant insertion of the arm into the stick bore between the tip and stick.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Wei PATENTEDW H915 I. H B/fochstein INVENTOR FIG. 4

BY Bernard A. Reiter ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to improvements in drumsticks. More particularly the invention pertains to the manner in which the tip end of a drumstick is connected to the drumstick itself.

It is commonly known and easily visualized that the reduced end of a drumstick and in particular the tip end thereof is continuously subjected to extreme impact forces. Such forces are most directly received by the tip end itself and transmitted by concussion type wave into the reduced end of the stick. Such concussion waves cause a continuous compression and expansion throughout the tip and thereby frequently results in a loosening of the tip on the stick. Prior art approaches to this problem have utilized obvious solutions such as connection of the tip to the stick with various adhesives or simple frictional engagement. Adhesive type connections, however, cure and frequently become brittle, thereafter cracking. and loosening the effective connection. Frictional engagements simply do not withstand the multidirectional forces imparted to the tip and it eventually loosens and separates.

SUMMARY OF THE INvENTIoN In an effort to obviate the problem described hereinabove, it becomes a principal objective of the invention to provide a reliable means for affixingthe tip to the end of a drumstick. It is most important in accomplishing this objective that the affixation means be readily and efficiently accomplished and that the cost of so doing is minimal, since otherwise the solution precludes competitive marketing of the improved drumstick. In accordance with these parameters, therefore, the invention herein contemplates an elongate drumstick having a reduced end to which the frustooval tip is connected. Both the'tip and the drumstick end are characterized by an elongate axial bore, the bore of the tip being of appropriate diameter to snugly fit over the end of the drumstick. The bore in the tip is characterized by a longitudinally axially extending arm which is integral with the tip itself and which extends into the bore of the stick when the tip is slid over and into engagement with the stick. In this manner the mutually engaging surfaces of the two elements are markedly increased so as to thereby improve frictional gripping of one to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and numerous other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in connection with the claims and drawing, wherein like numerals denote like parts in the severalviews, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drumstick of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tip ofthe drumstick of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a lateral sectional view through the tip along the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modified form of the drumstick of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of yet another modified form of the drumstick of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a drumstick 3 having a tip 5 affixed to the reduced end 7 thereof. The tip 5 is of the conventional generally oval configuration but is characterized by the frusto-shaped end 9 which facilitates attachment to the stick. Extending axially from the frusto-shaped end 9 is the tip recess 11. The recess 11 is of such diameter as to snugly engage the reduced end 7 of the stick when the tip is slid thereover.

Enhanced physical connection and frictional engagement of the tip and stick is, in accordance with the invention, accomplished by providing the reduced end 7 of the stick with an axial bore 13. The bore is adapted to receive an integral portion of the tip, this portion being generally referred to as an extending arm 15, or

the like. The arm 15 and axial bore 13 cooperate with one another to increase the frictional gripping area between the tip 5 and the stick 3 so that separation of one from the other is substantially precluded. More importantly, it should be noted that the arm 15 extends from the end 51; of tip 5 whereat the impact forces during use cause the greatest amount of contraction and expansion or working of the tip. In the absence of the arm 15 such working eventually causes the tip to loosen from the stick at the base of the tip recess 11. The working continues with use until separation of the two elements eventually occurs. The arm 15 effectively reduces such working by rigidly locating the end 5a of the tip with respect to the longitudinal axis of and the endof stick 3. The length of extending arm 15 should be slightly less than the depth of axial bore 13 so that the maximum amount of arm length is in contact with the bore. The terminal end of the arm is characterized by an apex configuration 19 which facilitates insertion of the arm into the bore. Increased frictional engagement between the tip 5 and the stick 3 is further enhancedby providing a knurled or roughened surface 21 on the exterior of the reduced end 7 of the stick. Such roughened surface is particularly helpful when the tip 5 is constructed from a relatively flexible or comparatively soft plastic material. The invention herein contemplates no specific material for the tip except that it be comparatively flexible and have little if any tendency to become brittle with use. As best shown in FIG. 3 the roughened or knurled surface 21 is generally circumferentially disposed about the entire .stick surface.

Means other than the knurled surface may be utilized forinsuring longitudinal stability of the tip on the stick. As shown in FIG. 4 the stick may be characterized by a circum ferentially located shoulder 25. The shoulder 25 could be used in substitution for the knurled surface or in conjunction therewith. In either event, the shoulder 25 is adapted to fit within and engage a cooperating mating recess 27 in the tip. Conversely the shoulder may exist as an integral part of the tip itself, as illustrated at 25a in FIG. 5. A recess 27a is then provided on the circumference of the stick for receiving shoulder 25a.

Various alternatives may be used in conjunction with the disclosed invention in order to still further enhance the integrity of the connection between the tip and the stick. The extending integral arm 15 may, for example, be configured so as to have a wider width at its unsupported end than at its supported end. Simultaneously the axial bore 13 in the stick would be configured to have a wider diameter or width at its bottomin order to fittingly receive the arm. It will be readily recognized that the longitudinal walls of the arm would therefore very slightly expand outwardly from the supported end to the unsupported end and that insertion of the arm into the bore would require slight working and force. Once inserted, however, the tip becomes virtually inseparable from the stick and the problems disclosed hereinabove are obviated. It may be emphasized, however, that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 2 satisfactorily effectuates all of the desired objectives of the invention in that it accomplishes reliable and permanent connection of the tip to the stick. The provision for the extending arm 15 is, in itself, a marked improvement toward accomplishing effective mechanical connection of the tip.

In operation it will be recognized that impact forces applied to the tip will be transmitted therethrough to the stick and as such will cause compression and expansion forces on the material of the tip. Such working" on the tip is not transmitted into the extending arm 15 since it is protected by the stick itself. Thus the arm is not subjected to the working during use which the rest of the tip is subjected to and, in addition, the arm locates and isolates the tip portion Saso as to preclude the transmission of working" forces from that portion to the sides of the tip in contact with the roughened or knurled surface 21.

Although the invention has been disclosed in the form of a preferred embodiment in which the locating means for the tip takes the form of an axially extending arm, and although various other additional locating and connecting features are disclosed, it is pointed out that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and which will be within the scope of the appended claims.

Therefore, that which is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a drumstick for transmitting impact forces from an end thereof to a receiving surface, the force transmitting end having attached thereto a tip configured as a surface of revolution the improvement residing in the means of attachment and comprising:

a recess formed in the force transmitting end of the stick,

said tip being characterized by a bore extending thereinto from a surface thereof, the stick fittingly engaging the walls of the bore when the force transmitting end is inserted therein and the base of the bore being characterized by locating means extending into the bore itself and also into abutting contact with the recess in the force transmitting end of the stick so that working of the tip is effectively precluded because of the relatively fixed relationship of the end of the stick to the base of the bore, said locating means is further characterized as an extending arm of elongate cantilever configuration, and the recess in the stick end being further characterized as an elongate axial bore so that insertion of the former into the latter enhances the frictional engagement of the two, and

the surface of the impact receiving end of the stick is roughened so as to enhance frictional engagement with the ti and the walls of Fhe recess in the end of the stick diverge slightly from the top to the bottom thereof and the walls of said extending arm are configured to fittingly engage the recess walls. 2. The drumstick of claim 1 wherein the force transmitting end of said stick is characterized by a protuberance means on the surface thereof for further enhancing the gripping action between the stick and tip.

3. The drumstick of claim 2 wherein the bore of the tip is characterized by a cooperating depression means therein, said protuberance means engaging the depression means so as to more reliably affix the tip to the stick.

4. The drumstick of claim 1 wherein the bore of the tip is characterized by a protuberance means which engages the surface of the stick for enhancing gripping connection of the two. I

5. The drumstick of claim 4 wherein the surface of the stick is characterized by a cooperating depression means for receiving the protuberance means in the bore of the tip.

6. In a drumstick for transmitting impact forces from an end thereof to a receiving surface, the force transmitting end having attached thereto a tip configured as asurface of revolution, the improvement residing in the means of attachment and comprising:

a recess formed in the force transmitting end of the stick,

said tip being characterized by a bore extending thereinto from a surface thereof the stick fittingly engaging the walls of the bore when the force transmitting end is inserted therein and the base of the bore being characterized by a locating means extending into the bore itself and also into abutting contact with the recess in the force transmitting end of the stick so that working of the tip is effectively precluded because of the relatively fixed relationship of the end of the stick to the base of the bore,

said locating means further characterized as an extending arm of elongate cantilever configuration, and the recess in the stick end being further characterized as an elongate axial bore so that insertion of the former into the latter enhances the frictional engagement of the two,

the walls of the recess in the end of the stick diverging slightly from the top to the bottom thereof and the walls of said extending arm being configured to fittingly engage the recess walls so as to thereby enhance the frictional engagement between the stick and the tip and to preclude separation of the tip and stick as a consequence of forces perpendicularly directed to the longitudinal axis of the stick. 

1. In a drumstick for transmitting impact forces from an end thereof to a receiving surface, the force transmitting end having attached thereto a tip configured as a surface of revolution the improvement residing in the means of attachment and comprising: a recess formed in the force transmitting end of the stick, said tip being characterized by a bore extending thereinto from a surface thereof, the stick fittingly engaging the walls of the bore when the force transmitting end is inserted therein and the base of the bore being characterized by locating means extending into the bore itself and also into abutting contact with the recess in the force transmitting end of the stick so that working of the tip is effectively precluded because of the relatively fixed relationship of the end of the stick to the base of the bore, said locating means is further characterized as an extending arm of elongate cantilever configuration, and the recess in the stick end being further characterized as an elongate axial bore so that insertion of the former into the latter enhances the frictional engagement of the two, and the surface of the impact receiving end of the stick is roughened so as to enhance frictional engagement with the tip, and the walls of the recess in the end of the stick diverge slightly from the top to the bottom thereof and the walls of said extending arm are configured to fittingly engage the recess walls.
 2. The drumstick of claim 1 wherein the force transmitting end of said stick is characterized by a protuberance means on the surface thereof for further enhancing the gripping action between the stick and tip.
 3. The drumstick of claim 2 wherein the bore of the tip is characterized by a cooperating depression means therein, said protuberance means engaging the depression means so as to more reliably affix the tip to the stick.
 4. The drumstick of claim 1 wherein the bore of the tip is characterized by a protuberance means which engages the surface of the stick for enhancing gripping connection of the two.
 5. The drumstick of claim 4 wherein the surface of the stick is characterized by a cooperating depression means for receiving the protuberance means in the bore of the tip.
 6. In a drumstick for transmitting impact forces from an end thereof to a receiving surface, the force transmitting end having attached thereto a tip configured as a surface of revolution, the improvement residing in the means of attachment and comprising: a recess formed in the force transmitting end of the stick, said tip being characterized by a bore extending thereinto from a surface thereof the stick fittingly engaging the walls of the bore when the force transmitting end is inserted therein and the base of the bore being characterized by a locating means extending into the bore itself and also into abutting contact with the recess in the force transmitting end of the stick so that working of the tip is effectively precluded because of the relatively fixed relationship of the end of the stick to the base of the bore, said locating means further characterized as an extending arm of elongate cantilever configuration, and the recess in the stick end being further characterized as an elongate axial bore so that insertion of the former into the latter enhances the frictional engagement of the two, the walls of the recess in the end of the stick diverging slightly from the top to the bottom thereof and the walls of said extending arm being configured to fittingly engage the recess walls so as to thereby enhance the frictional engagement between the stick and the tip and to preclude separation of the tip and stick as a consequence of forces perpendicularly directed to the longitudinal axis of the stick. 